Nanomedicine has brought significant advancements to healthcare by utilizing nanotechnology in medicine. Despite much promise, the further development of nanocarriers for clinical use has been hindered by a lack of understanding and visualization of nano-bio interactions. Conventional imaging methods have limitations in resolution, sensitivity, and specificity. This study introduces a label-free optical approach using stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy to image poly(lactic- co -glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanocarriers, the most widely used polymeric nanocarrier for delivery therapeutic agents, with single-particle sensitivity and quantification capabilities. A unique Raman peak was identified for PLGA ester, enabling generalized bio-orthogonal bond imaging. We demonstrated quantitative SRS imaging of PLGA nanocarriers across different biological systems from cells to animal tissues. This label-free imaging method provides a powerful tool for studying this prevalent nanocarrier and quantitatively visualizing their distribution, interaction, and clearance in vivo.
Keyphrases
- label free
- drug delivery
- high resolution
- drug release
- cancer therapy
- healthcare
- induced apoptosis
- gene expression
- oxidative stress
- mass spectrometry
- photodynamic therapy
- fluorescence imaging
- deep learning
- optical coherence tomography
- artificial intelligence
- endoplasmic reticulum stress
- health insurance
- living cells
- bone regeneration
- cell cycle arrest
- signaling pathway